November 17, 2015. Daily Reading: Psalm 123-125. Background: Psalm 120-122. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 123 Looking to the Lord: Another psalm in the series of the songs of ascents (see psalm 120), this song gives focus to the Lord as the psalmist looks to Him in his people’s time of need. The Lord is glorified…
Category: Christianity
Acts 7-8: Stephen and the spread of the gospel.
November 14, 2015. Daily Reading: Acts 7-8. Background: Acts 5-6. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 7 Stephen: The previous chapter left of with the arrest of Stephen on the basis of false witnesses, being brought before the council of Jewish leaders. This chapter pics up here and records Stephen’s defense and message to the high priest…
Nahum 1-3: The oracle against Nineveh.
November 13, 2015. Daily Reading: Nahum 1-3. Background: Nineveh, the capitol city of Assyria, was a particularly cruel enemy to the children of Israel. Nahum is given an oracle from God against Nineveh here that foretells of their destruction and devastation, which would be at the hands of the Medes and Babylonians in 612 B.C….
Ecclesiastes 5-6: Satisfaction and dissatisfaction.
November 12, 2015. Daily Reading: Ecclesiastes 5-6. Background: Ecclesiastes 3-4. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 5 1. Few words before God: Chapter five of the book of Ecclesiastes opens with a discussion on the relationship between God and man, reminding us of where we stand before the Creator of the universe and how we should approach…
Psalm 120-122: Songs of Ascents.
November 11, 2015. Daily Reading: Psalm 120-122. Background: Psalm 119. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 120 A cry for deliverance: Psalm 120 begins a set of fifteen psalms (120-134) that are labeled as “Songs of Ascents,” a phrase of which different opinions have formed as to its meaning. Two notable views put forth that these psalms…
II Chronicles 21-24: A rough patch for Judah.
November 10, 2015. Daily Reading: II Chronicles 21-24. Background: II Chronicles 16-20. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 21 Jehoram: After the death of Jehoshaphat, his firstborn son Jehoram assumed the throne in his place. When he took the throne, he killed his brothers and some of the princes of Israel to establish his reign. Jehoram did…
Deuteronomy 1-3: Remembering history.
November 9, 2015. Daily reading: Deuteronomy 1-3. Background: The book of Deuteronomy is a unique book in the Hebrew scriptures, really standing independently from the previous books of the law and the subsequent books of history as it comprises aspects of both. The name is derived from a statement made in Deuteronomy 17:18 which talks…
James 4-5: Drawing near to God.
November 8, 2015. Daily Reading: James 4-5. Background: James 1-3. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 4 Drawing near to God: In this chapter James deals with the ever present threat of worldliness, offering practical wisdom to fight against the desires of the flesh. Notice how James doesn’t lay the blame on worldliness, however, but rather on…
Acts 5-6: The expansion of the gospel.
November 7, 2015. Daily Reading: Acts 5-6. Background: Acts 1-4. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 5 1. Lying to God: At the beginning of this chapter, Luke tells a story that was sure to have set a precedent of truthfulness in the early church, teaching the disciples a lesson in pride, attention and lying. We too…
Micah 1-7: Judgment and restoration.
November 6, 2015. Daily Reading: Micah 1-7. Background: The book of Micah is the sixth of the twelve minor prophets in Hebrew scripture and contains the word of the Lord delivered through the prophet Micah in the 8th century BC. A contemporary of Isaiah, Amos and Hosea, Miach’s ministry spanned from approximately 737–696 BC in the land…
Ecclesiastes 3-4: Time, the eternal and the finite.
November 5, 2015. Daily Reading: Ecclesiastes 3-4. Background: Ecclesiastes 1-2. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 3 1. A time for everything: The first eight verses of this chapter comprise what is perhaps one of the most well known passages in the book. In beautiful poetry, the preacher makes the point that there is a time for…
Psalm 119: For the love of the Law.
November 4, 2015. Daily Reading: Psalm 119. Background: Psalm 116-118. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 119 The love of the Law: This psalm is a very unique psalm that is set apart from the other psalms in length and focus. With 176 verses, psalm 119 is the longest psalm in the book (longer than any other given…
Twenty Eight Eighteen 